At city speeds around the Willow Springs grounds, the bike is incredibly nimble, thanks to its wide bars and light curb weight of a claimed 405 pounds.

The motor oozes character, as you’d expect from a big twin with a relatively light flywheel. Acceleration from in-town speeds is instant, prodigious and addicting.

A motorcycle boot must satisfy many expectations in order to be deemed truly functional for the serious rider. For example, its sturdiness must go beyond mere support to actively protect your feet and ankles in the event of a crash.

The boot sole should be contoured to aid traction, and made from a compound that's durable yet tacky enough to grip the pavement. The ideal motorcycle boot isn't easy to find and many factors should be considered before making your purchase.

A saddle is part of your motorcycle's suspension system (you are suspended on it), and its size and shape impacts your ride greatly; foam density and quality are an important part of the equation. There are varying grades of foam. Idealy your seat should have high-density foam in the middle and bottom portions and a thinner layer of soft foam closest to your glutes. Good-quality foam is heavier and springier. It still bounces back when compressed, while the cheaper stuff will collapse under pressure.

I've used the GL2068's in weather down to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit with no problems. My hands were unprotected and right out there in the breeze and not behind a fairing. I didn't notice any more air intrusion or that they were any colder than any other winter gloves, so I'm pleased with their performance. The right hand glove has a hook, and the left hand glove has a loop that allows you to connect the two together when you stow them so that they keep each other company to help prevent losing them.

Rex Marsee has been designing motorcycle apparel and luggage for over 30 years. Before that, he raced motorcycles and was a design engineer for Harley Davidson, so he knows what the enthusiast needs from their gear in the way of features and performance. Rex fitted me up with his newest jacket from the Adventure products line and sent me on my way.

Windshields come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and even shades. Most cruiser motorcycles are sold naked, but many have shield options available for an additional cost from the manufacturer. The aftermarket also teems with first-time windshields or replacements for stock units. And, although there can be countless variations on the theme, just a handful of specialized companies manufacture the bulk of shields sold in the United States.

The big differences between the top models, as our testers discovered, are in fit, finish and features the three "Fs" of helmets. We graded these premium lids on their quality of finish and attention to detail. Ventilation systems were checked in all weather from hot and hotter, to wet and cold. Can you operate the vents with gloves on? Does the chin strap flog you half to death because there's no snap to secure the end? When your helmet starts smelling like a bear's den, can you remove the pads and wash them? The answers to these and other burning questions are included in our premium helmet comparison test, but the most important question is "How do you make sure you buy a helmet that really fits properly?"